DAS changes coming WDW May 20/ DL June 18, 2024

Ok, now I’m even more confused. I thought that AQR was “lesser” vs. RTQ - i.e. everyone joins the line and if you have to exit you rejoin the party still waiting in line. That’s available for everyone. Think “child 1 has to leave to go to the bathroom with parent 1 while child 2 and parent 2 continue waiting in the standby line." I thought RTQ is where they give you a specific return time (basically a DAS-lite that you have to get with the CM instead of in the app).

So assuming I’m not backwards, AQR would never need to be noted and would never be denied because it’s literally available to anyone in the park.

I’m glad that you got everything straightened out, but something definitely doesn’t make sense with what you were told.
I believe the poster shared that during their phone call internally AQR is used but for them RTQ is what they are actually seeking. That aligns with their particular situation of how DAS would function with the return time. So for the purposes of this thread and for others I'm thinking they way we have used the terminology they are meaning if RTQ is denied as opposed to what most are going to think of it as which is AQR that functions outside of DAS considerations.
 
I thought that AQR was “lesser” vs. RTQ
RTQ (or “return to queue”) is NOT an official accommodation. Many seem to use that term/acronym interchangeably with AQR (Attraction Queue Re-entry). A return time may be granted when some needs to leave the queue but that’s not a given, it depends on the circumstances at the time.

Location Queue Return is described on the DIsneyland website. It is sometimes referred to as a “wheelchair return time” and is used much more often there due to queues that are not physically accessible.

ETA — correct that AQR is literally available to any guest and this there is no need to have it noted as “approved.” Only DAS requires registration/approval. No other accommodation needs notation.
 
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/accessing-attractions/

AQR . Standard "bathroom pass". Exit queue, get back into queue with party at the merge point. Available to everyone. No special request needed. Just let the CM know and they will coordinate.

Location return time. Many folk use RTC with this or think DAS-lite. Where an actual return time is loaded onto app. This is standard for a set number of rides with mobility accessibility issues. At those rides, it appears to be rather easy for other disabilities to obtain a return time.


The issue often beco.es problematic when a guest goes to a ride seeking a return time by using acronym RTQ, the CM will most likely default to the AQR option above.

If one's goal is to obtain a return time, The most consistent process I've seen reported successfully is to present to the CM that you have an issue at that moment that prevents regular queuing and what options are available to your party.
 
I believe the poster shared that during their phone call internally AQR is used but for them RTQ is what they are actually seeking. That aligns with their particular situation of how DAS would function with the return time. So for the purposes of this thread and for others I'm thinking they way we have used the terminology they are meaning if RTQ is denied as opposed to what most are going to think of it as which is AQR that functions outside of DAS considerations.
Yes, AQR is the code I was told they use internally for any accommodation potentially suggested/discussed with the denied DAS applicant.

Was told earlier this week, they generally do suggest one of the party waits in line and is joined by the DAS holder when they near the merge point with LL
Only DAS requires registration/approval. No other accommodation needs notation.
Yet the file was noted with the information that a return to line was suggested as the accommodation after first being denied standard DAS (as the 1st CM indicated it would). No idea if that’s “normal” procedure or not TBH.

I’m done trying to figure out the specifics of how DAS functions internally. Glad we don’t have to go thru it again for sometime.

IMO in comes down to the individual interview, not necessarily any diagnosis. Specifically, of importance is how you detail one’s personal experience in lines @ WDW & in RL.
 

Cane chairs have recently been added to the "allowed" list. It used to be considered a "folding chair" and not allowed into the parks except for use as a cane, but it is now one of the suggestions for those with mobility/stamina concerns who would not qualify for DAS. Feel free to bring and use your cane chair.
Thank you for this info! How will this work in lines for rides and when we are in the actual ride? The lines for rides I will be able to move along and pick up the cane chair quickly (I think, lol), but what happens to the cane chair while in the ride?
 
/
Thank you for this info! How will this work in lines for rides and when we are in the actual ride? The lines for rides I will be able to move along and pick up the cane chair quickly (I think, lol), but what happens to the cane chair while in the ride?
Usually if the ride is very slow and mellow, I just lay my cane down at my feet, or hold on to it, otherwise the CM will take it from me after I board. At the end, I usually find it proped up against a wall close to where we get off, or else, the CM will hand it to me. They just don't want you to have to hang on the cane if you need to hang on to the ride.

Same with scooters if you can bring it into the boarding area... they have you park it and then they will move it to the end of the ride area. (My cane is just a fold up one that I unfold and use if I need it to go the distance to board. It's not a seat folding one, but the idea is still the same.)
 
Usually if the ride is very slow and mellow, I just lay my cane down at my feet, or hold on to it, otherwise the CM will take it from me after I board. At the end, I usually find it proped up against a wall close to where we get off, or else, the CM will hand it to me. They just don't want you to have to hang on the cane if you need to hang on to the ride.

Same with scooters if you can bring it into the boarding area... they have you park it and then they will move it to the end of the ride area. (My cane is just a fold up one that I unfold and use if I need it to go the distance to board. It's not a seat folding one, but the idea is still the same.)
Thank you so much! Love all this info!
 
This is probably not allowed for discussion so I will keep it brief, but if anyone has been denied I highly recommend speaking with the guest relations CMs in Town Hall. They are seeking feedback that they can submit due to the third party's handling of the new system (medical professionals and the contracted employees that are working to determine eligibility). The discrepancies in approvals/denials and subsequent handling of the system has not necessarily been viewed favorably by those who previously handled the system.

Are you saying the CMs in the accessibility team are not regular CMs?

I think they are CMs (never heard before that anyone other than the medical professionals were third-party), but I don't think (with few exceptions) that they are the same CMs who were doing it before, but I could certainly be wrong on that.

Yes. Still referred to as CMs, but not employed by Disney.
I'm curious where you got this information.The 3rd party medical professional involvement was announced at the time of the initial DAS changes announcement on April 9. But, I have not seen anything that even hints at other 'contracted service' individuals in place of CMs. So, curious if it's true why it's not out there anywhere.
Everything I have seen (including from Disney) indicates:
  • DAS was removed from the Guest Relations Department and a new Accessibility Services Department was created
  • The initial contact on chat is with CMs in the Accessibility Services Department who can involve the 3rd party medical staff for consultation if needed
I have seen posts from people who say they were Guest Relations CMs who did DAS registration before and transferred to the new department from Guest Relations. (also posts from guests who applied for DAS who were told the CM helping them was a long term CM).
There were also additional people hired for the new team, but I haven't seen anything that says they were hired as anything than CMs in the new department.
From things I've read, there is some animosity among Guest Relations CMs who were upset that a new department was set up. Some of the posters apparently felt removing DAS from Guest Relations was a 'diss' against them
 
From things I've read, there is some animosity among Guest Relations CMs who were upset that a new department was set up. Some of the posters apparently felt removing DAS from Guest Relations was a 'diss' against them
That’s interesting, and I kind of get it - it might feel a bit like a demotion to have that level of responsibility removed from your work, especially if you felt like you were very good at the work.

As an anecdotal aside, the poor CMs at the blue umbrellas lately look awfully bored. That’s a gross generalization, of course, but they always used to look pretty steadily busy: it was rare that I’d find a blue umbrella team not assisting a Guest. In recent visits, it’s become the opposite: rarely do I see any Guests at the blue umbrellas.
 
There were also additional people hired for the new team
FB posters have shared multiple posts/screenshots of the job listings for both the medical
Professionals & the DAS CMs for non remote positions in Tampa

Was truly shocked at the low hourly salary that was referenced.

No idea how many sites WDW operates re DAS in Florida.

Again, on FB, people are starting to share their accounts as to "renewing" their DAS for October trips. saying it's was much smoother the 2nd time around as to the length of time involved, including actual interview.

At point I really need a big grain of salt as to some FB accounts re DAS. I didnt count seems a bit early for that. could it already be 120 days from the start of this already?
 
didnt count seems a bit early for that. could it already be 120 days from the start of this already?
Just about... the first WDW date for the new changes was May 20th. For APs 120 days is tomorrow. But if guests use date-based tickets for 2 visits, maybe a trip in late June and a trip in early October, they could need to re-register already.
 
FB posters have shared multiple posts/screenshots of the job listings for both the medical
Professionals & the DAS CMs for non remote positions in Tampa

Was truly shocked at the low hourly salary that was referenced.

No idea how many sites WDW operates re DAS in Florida.

Again, on FB, people are starting to share their accounts as to "renewing" their DAS for October trips. saying it's was much smoother the 2nd time around as to the length of time involved, including actual interview.

At point I really need a big grain of salt as to some FB accounts re DAS. I didnt count seems a bit early for that. could it already be 120 days from the start of this already?
Wouldn’t surprise me since our first date was July and we need to renew next month for our Nov trip.
 
In the end I was very thinly veiled asked how I could be on my own when I was so sick.

This situation is a freaking lawsuit waiting to happen.
I hate to say this - and in no way am I implying that OP did this - but I do kind of get why Disney would push back on people saying that they are too sick to function without DAS but somehow navigate the rest of the world on their own. Clearly some people can, but I think that given the desire to curb overuse, it does make sense that they are challenging users more than in the past.
 
I hate to say this - and in no way am I implying that OP did this - but I do kind of get why Disney would push back on people saying that they are too sick to function without DAS but somehow navigate the rest of the world on their own. Clearly some people can, but I think that given the desire to curb overuse, it does make sense that they are challenging users more than in the past.
There's lots of things people with disabilities just don't do because it isn't accessible. Disney has been accessible for many of these people in the past, and for many may have been one of the few places that was accessible and perhaps facilitated an independence they couldn't experience in other places - so they prioritized it.

It really exhausting even just as a parent of a child with disabilities to constantly hear - well if she needs that much support, she just shouldn't go or just shouldn't do that thing. And it's a mindset I come across frequently, especially online. If we did what all of these comments indicated we should do, she'd never leave the house. Yeah, that's not happening. Mindsets like those (not people here, to be clear) - are why the ADA exists.
 
There's lots of things people with disabilities just don't do because it isn't accessible. Disney has been accessible for many of these people in the past, and for many may have been one of the few places that was accessible and perhaps facilitated an independence they couldn't experience in other places - so they prioritized it.

It really exhausting even just as a parent of a child with disabilities to constantly hear - well if she needs that much support, she just shouldn't go or just shouldn't do that thing. And it's a mindset I come across frequently, especially online. If we did what all of these comments indicated we should do, she'd never leave the house. Yeah, that's not happening. Mindsets like those (not people here, to be clear) - are why the ADA exists.
All I said was that I understand why Disney is asking more questions. Eg, when visiting Disney (or being “out in the world” more broadly), there are all kinds of situations where that DAS wouldn’t help. Not all are relevant to everyone, but likely one or more is relevant to some people, particularly a few years ago when mobile ordering, TSA precheck, etc weren’t available (or widely used):

1. Transportation to Disney - security, waiting in line to board, waiting for the plane to take off, waiting to get off the plane, waiting for whatever form of transportation we choose to get to Disney.
2. Transportation at Disney - bus queues can be quite long at times, and without someone to wait for you you may be stuck in the lines
3. Entering the parks - I have definitely been trapped in long lines there, especially around park open
4. LLs pre-changes - no need to discuss long lines there
5. Waiting for food - mobile ordering is relatively new, so before that someone who was on their own would have to wait in the lines

In no way am I saying that DAS shouldn’t exist. I’m also not looking for a “well I do X, Y, and Z so your list is wrong.”

Bottom line, the likelihood of getting DAS for non developmental disabilities is a higher when one is alone. So because of that, it makes sense that that cohort faces additional scrutiny.
 

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